Friday, January 25, 2013

Weekends
in Midtown just got even tastier now that Lure
is serving brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Chef David
Bradley's delicious creations will help shake those weekend sleepies off,
including the Hangtown fry, Carolina gold rice porridge with buttered shrimp
and grilled pork belly, dulce de leche French toast (pictured), lobster
Benedict, French horn mushrooms a la plancha (soft polenta) plus the Riverview
Farms burger, the fried oyster slider trio and a fried North Carolina catfish
biscuit. Toast to the weekend with prosecco or share a punch bowl with friends!

We know everyone loves a good laugh, and
what’s better than hilarious bloopers and blunders… on cakes? Jen Yates (@CakeWrecks) finds them so hilarious that she
dedicated a blog to "Cake Wrecks - when professional cakes go
horribly wrong." From misspellings to cake decorating gone awry, Jen Yates
has found some of the greatest bakery disasters. As a home baker, it's kind of
comforting to see that everyone makes mistakes, and they're just as delicious
anyway.

The
Falcons ran a super season. Now the pressure’s off, and Atlantans can kick back
and watch those other two teams duke it out and take in the illustrious
commercials on Sunday, February 3. Atlanta restaurants are right there with
50-yard-line views and menus packing winning fare to eat in their bowl or
yours!

Shareable
meals and a plethora of beverage choices headline at 10th & Piedmont in Midtown. Fans glued to
the numerous screens in the bar or the dining room big screen projector can
chomp into queso fondido ($7) and blackened fish tacos ($9), along with $3
Miller Light Drafts. 404-602-5510.

Futbol is really American Football on Super
Bowl Sunday at one of Buckhead’s most well-known viewing spots, Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant. Numerous screens
will be tuned in to the game, and guests will relish the wide selection of
draught beers and hearty Irish pub fare. 404-841-0066.

A few downs away in Virginia Highland, The Original El
Taco adds heat to the action with a variety of Mexican dishes
sporting Tex-Mex flair. Dig into game-day classics like guacamole and queso dip
and hydrate with cocktails such as margaritas, sangria and mojitos. Score a win
on the prize wheel loaded with valuable prizes. 404-873-4656.

Gridiron grill enthusiasts can strengthen
their core menu with red oak burger grilling planks from Fire
& Flavor. The 100 percent natural wood planks used in this
traditional Native American cooking method transform an ordinary burger into
the MVP of game-day snacks. Get on board -- at retailers in 50 states and
Canada or order online.
1-866-728-8332.

Hotter than a locker room sauna, the
600-degree hearth ovens at Hearth Pizza Tavern in Sandy Springs will turn
out themed pizzas honoring the teams in the championship game on Super Bowl
Sunday. Touchdown, to-go plan. 404-252-5378.

Half-priced wings on Super Bowl Sunday flag HOBNOB
Neighborhood Tavern as an ideal Midtown spot to pull up a chair and
cheer. Alcoholic milkshakes are colder and more substantial than a Gatorade
cooler bath. 404-968-2288.

Fans on both sides can come together at the
long granite bar and central communal table at Kaleidoscope Bistro & Pub. Melting
rivalries is the mutual approval of the award-winning Kaleidoscope burger,
steak frites, Springer Mountain chicken wings, locally grown food and a few
brews from a great selection of beer. 404-474-9600.

Classic American tavern fare at locations in
neighborhoods all over town makes Marlow’s Tavern a winning game-day-viewing
pick. The firecracker shrimp with cracklin’ spicy sauce will hit you like a
linebacker on third down; the grilled turkey meatloaf and hot and sweet wings
are equally powerful.

Turn your home into a sports pub with Ormsby’s
game-day fare to go, such as Guinness-braised bratwurst, hand-dipped corn dogs,
hot boiled peanuts and Guinness-dipped pretzels with stout mustard. Sounds like
a good call. 404-968-2033.

“Tuna-in” and roll with to-go sushi platters
from RA Sushi Bar
Restaurant. The lineup includes salmon, yellowtail, tuna and shrimp
nigiri as well as a wide range of sushi rolls and a fan-favorite vegetarian
platter. Customized platters are available; all platters come with wasabi, soy
sauce, ginger and chopsticks. 404-267-0114.

Having folks over? Uncle Julio’s
Fine Mexican Food has your back with their to-go Party Packs serving
3-20 people. Fajitas, enchiladas or tacos are available in chicken, beef or combinations
packs. Appetizer Party Pack brings opposing teams together with chips, salsa,
chile con queso and guacamole. 404-350-6767.

Bring two sustainable traditions together on
February 3: White Oak Pastures grass-fed, hormone-free
ground beef for your grill and those big, beefy Super Bowl football players.
Okay, so maybe White Oak Pastures is kinder and gentler. Buy at Publix, Whole
Foods Market and other local markets or online.

You've worked hard this week, and now it's time to reward yourself. Instead of blowing your paycheck on a flashy meal with less-than-satisfying portions, check out Bantam + Biddy's new weekend blue plate specials. Chefs Shaun Doty and Lance Gummere are known for their high-quality, pastured poultry, Niman Ranch pork and grass-fed beef and draw upon local, seasonal produce for sides at the Ansley Mall eatery. On Friday, Bantam + Biddy is serving up Mississippi catfish with tartar sauce and fennel slaw ($12), while Saturday's blue plate features a bistro steak with frites (fries) and salad ($15). Where's the chicken you ask? Bantam + Biddy would never leave you feeling peckish - the restaurant offers a fried chicken plate with your choice of two sides ($14) on Sunday. Blue plate specials are available from 11:30 a.m. to close. And don't forget to use that money you saved to order a beer, wine or cocktail. It is the weekend after all.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

It’s
that time of the year again, and it’s time to vote in Southern Living
magazine’s annual The South's Tastiest Town contest. The South is full of
tasty eats, but we don’t think anyone does it better than Atlanta! You can cover
the culinary world from locally grown to global tables. And the best part? You
don’t have to look far to go from farm fresh to down home cooking.

Atlanta is up against some pretty tasty
competition, and we can't sit by passively waiting for our soup to come in. Pin
the voting link to your start-up page and vote through midnight,
February 28. One entry email address per day.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The new weekday lunch temptations atMarlow’s Tavern
pose two strategies to consider. Make your favorite dish your new
weekly ritual, or spice up your lunch by trying all five of these
reasonably priced specials. A blackened tilapia wrap kicks off the week
on Mondays by folding a toasted flour tortilla around grilled tilapia,
fresh spinach, red onion, tomato and ranch dressing with fresh fruit on
the side ($11). Tuesdays, choose simple and seasoned or grilled chicken
on marbled rye for your Marlow’s Melt that comes dressed with
caramelized onions and provolone plus hand-cut Tavern fries ($9.50).
Wednesday’s hot “open faced” turkey sandwich will get you through hump
day with thinly sliced roast turkey topped with warm white cheddar sauce
and roma tomato on toasted focaccia with a side of hand-cut Tavern
fries ($11). Your brain will thank you for the omega-3 boost when you
order Thursday’s grilled salmon and baby spinach salad, dotted with
oven-dried tomato, red onion and warm bacon vinaigrette ($14). End your
week on a high note with Friday’s grilled chicken penne, with grilled
chicken breast based with basil pesto, fresh spinach and oven-dried
tomato sauce ($12). Not too heavy, not too light, daily fresh variety -
lunching at Marlow’s Tavern, just right.

Mardi Gras is right around the corner and Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna is celebrating with an oyster fest. Steak more your thing? Join Fleming's for a three-course prime rib dinner for just $29.95. There's a ton of delicious things happening in ATL and more in this week's Dish.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Atkins Park Tavern Smyrna celebrates Mardi Gras and seafood with their 2nd Annual Oyster/Mardi Gras Fest, Friday,
February 8 through Tuesday, February 12. The Dixie Duncan band hits the stage
at 11 p.m. Friday night. Guests can purchase tickets online for Saturday and Sunday events, $5 in
advance and $10 day of at the door. On Saturday, doors open at 11 a.m. with
music on the outdoor stage (inside a heated tent) beginning at 1 p.m. The last band for the day, takes to the indoor stage at 10:30 p.m.

On Sunday,
boogie in for day-long live music and a "cure-all" New Orleans-style
hangover brunch. Monday Lundi Gras provides family-friendly entertainment for all ages with the band GrassRoots at 5:30 p.m., plus face painting,
mask decorating and a menu of NOLA favorites. Cover up for Tuesday's
Mardi Gras mask party featuring the band Andrew Black & Friends at 9:30
p.m. Bring your own mask, but don't fret if you don't have one! Buy one at the door for $5. Proceeds go to Mustard Seed Communities. See you there!